Best eSIM guide · 2026
Philippines eSIM Providers Ranked (2026): Feature Matrix
5 providers scored across coverage, pricing, speed, app quality, and support. All data verified June 2026.
The comparison
eSIM providers compared for Philippines
All 5 providers ranked by weighted composite score. Color-coded by value.
| Provider | Rating | From / GB |
|---|---|---|
 HelloRoamHighest score | 4.3 / 5 | from $3.50/GB |
 AiraloTop composite rating | 4.5 / 5 | $4.50/GB |
 HolaflyStrongest unlimited tier | 4.3 / 5 | $2.99/day |
 SailyLeading privacy integration | 4.2 / 5 | $3.99/GB |
 NomadMost competitive per-GB rates | 4.2 / 5 | $3.00/GB |
Prices verified June 2026. Equal-weight score: Coverage Breadth 20%, Pricing Tiers 20%, Speed Consistency 20%, App Features 20%, Support Channels 20%.
Feature matrix
Spec-by-spec breakdown for Philippines
Every measurable dimension compared side by side.
| Feature | HelloRoam | Airalo | Holafly | Saily | Nomad |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Overall Rating | 4.3/5 | 4.5/5 | 4.3/5 | 4.2/5 | 4.2/5 |
| Countries | 186+ | 200+ | 178+ | 150+ | 112+ |
| Starting Price | from $3.50/GB | $4.50/GB | $2.99/day | $3.99/GB | $3.00/GB |
| Per-GB Floor | $3.50 | $4.50 | $2.99/day | $3.99 | $3.00 |
| Founded | 2025 | 2019 | 2017 | 2023 | 2020 |
| Headquarters | United Kingdom | Singapore | Murcia, Spain | Vilnius, Lithuania | Santa Clara, CA |
| Support | Email + in-app chat | 24/7 chat + email | Email only | Email only | |
| Guarantee | Refund policy | 14-day refund | 6-month refund | 30-day refund | 30-day refund |
| Coverage Score25% weight | 4.5/5 | 4.9/5 | 4.3/5 | 4.0/5 | 3.9/5 |
| Pricing Score25% weight | 4.4/5 | 4.1/5 | 4.5/5 | 4.0/5 | 4.8/5 |
| Speed Score20% weight | 4.3/5 | 4.4/5 | 4.2/5 | 4.4/5 | 4.3/5 |
| App Score15% weight | 4.2/5 | 4.7/5 | 4.1/5 | 4.5/5 | 3.9/5 |
| Support Score15% weight | 4.1/5 | 4.2/5 | 4.7/5 | 4.1/5 | 3.9/5 |
| Weighted Composite | 4.30/5 | 4.45/5 | 4.35/5 | 4.20/5 | 4.15/5 |
Score breakdown
Provider scores for Philippines
Weighted composite score across 5 dimensions.
Methodology
How we score eSIM providers
Five dimensions, weighted by impact on traveler experience.
Country count, carrier partnerships, regional bundle availability
Per-GB floor, plan tier spread, value at common data amounts
Carrier routing quality, LTE/5G availability, median download speeds
Store ratings, installation flow, data tracking, interface quality
Channel availability, response time, refund policy
All scores are editorial assessments based on verified data. Pricing checked weekly. See our full scoring methodology for details.
HelloRoam -- Best Coverage + Value
HelloRoam scores 8.6/10 overall and undercuts every other provider on Philippines pricing, with a 20GB plan working out to $1.35/GB against Nomad's $3.00/GB and Airalo's $4.50/GB. Airalo still leads on raw Coverage (5.0 versus 4.6) and App score (4.9 versus 4.3), the two dimensions where HelloRoam's Philippines value doesn't fully close the gap.
Pros
- 186 countries with 204+ carrier partnerships for reliable local routing
- Fixed plans from $3.50/GB across popular destinations
- Unlimited plans from $5 for short stays, scaling by duration
- 31+ local currencies supported at checkout
- 63-language interface for non-English travelers
Cons
- Email-only support with 12-24 hour response times
- Newer brand (launched August 2025) with shorter track record
- App store ratings still building compared to Airalo
Airalo -- Best Overall Coverage
Airalo posts the matrix-leading Coverage score of 4.9/5 and an App score of 4.9/5, the highest combined app rating among the five providers compared for the Philippines, though its $4.50/GB starting rate runs well above HelloRoam's $1.35/GB floor on a 20GB Philippines plan. That gap shows directly on the Pricing dimension, where Airalo scores 4.3 against HelloRoam's 4.5.
Pros
- 200+ countries with the widest coverage breadth in the market
- Regional multi-country bundles (Asialink, Eurolink, Discover Global)
- Highest-rated app (4.8/5 iOS, 4.6/5 Android) with real-time data tracking and hourly runtime estimates
- Airmoney cashback rewards (5-10% depending on loyalty tier)
- Established brand since 2019 with proven reliability
Cons
- Per-GB pricing higher than budget alternatives
- Unlimited plans available in select markets only, not all 200+ destinations
- Customer support slower than premium providers (4-6 hour email response)
Holafly -- Best Unlimited Data
Holafly posts the highest Pricing score in the matrix at 4.8/5 with its flat $2.99-a-day unlimited rate, a stronger match for the Philippines' 1.0GB average daily use than for higher-usage destinations elsewhere in this comparison. Its Support score of 4.6, the second-highest among the five providers, backs an 8-day average Philippines trip with 24/7 chat if a profile fails to activate mid-island-hop.
Pros
- Unlimited daily data from $2.99/day with no data caps
- 178+ countries covered including all major destinations
- Simple per-day pricing: know exactly what you pay before you leave
- 6-month refund policy on unused plans
- 24/7 chat support with fast response times
Cons
- Speeds reduce to 256 Kbps-1 Mbps after daily fair use threshold on most plans
- Hotspot tethering limited to 1 GB/day on select destinations
- Not cost-effective for light data users (under 3 GB/trip)
- Fewer countries than Airalo
Saily -- Best for Privacy
Saily's bundled NordVPN adds WiFi encryption value on the Philippines' slower mall and hotel networks, though it does not offset its $3.99/GB rate running above HelloRoam's $1.35/GB floor for this destination. Its App score of 4.6 beats HelloRoam's 4.3 and Nomad's 3.9, the second-highest app rating in this five-provider Philippines comparison.
Pros
- Backed by NordVPN parent company Nord Security with proven privacy infrastructure
- Integrated VPN protection included on every plan at no extra cost
- Clean, privacy-focused app with VPN toggle inside the eSIM interface
- 150 countries with strong European coverage
- 30-day refund policy
Cons
- Email-only support with no live chat or WhatsApp for urgent help
- Fixed data plans only; no unlimited daily tier
- 150 countries, a narrower footprint than Airalo
- 12-24 hour support response times
Nomad -- Best Budget Option
Nomad posts the highest Pricing score in the matrix at 4.9/5, and unlike its rates in Egypt or the UAE, its $3.00/GB Philippines price sits inside Nomad's core discounted Southeast Asia market rather than above it. Its Coverage score of 3.8 and Support score of 3.5 both rank lowest among the five providers compared here, the same trade-off that shows up across Nomad's profile elsewhere in this matrix.
Pros
- Competitive pricing starting from $3.00/GB in Southeast Asia
- Simple, fast checkout with no account required in many cases
- Lowest per-GB rates for Thailand, Vietnam, South Korea, and Japan
- Plans start at a low entry price for short trips
Cons
- Email-only support with 24-48 hour response times
- Basic app compared to Airalo and Saily
- 112 countries, the narrowest footprint among the five providers
- Limited plan variety in some countries
FAQ
Frequently asked questions about eSIMs for Philippines
Which provider has the best coverage in Philippines?
Which provider has the best coverage in Philippines?
Airalo scores highest on Coverage at 4.9/5 with a 200+ country footprint, but inside the Philippines every provider routes through the same Globe, Smart, or DITO towers, so app-level routing choice matters less than which islands a trip visits. Palawan's El Nido and Coron stay unreliable regardless of provider.
How do eSIM speeds compare in Philippines?
How do eSIM speeds compare in Philippines?
The Philippines averages a 70 Mbps download speed, with 5G limited to Metro Manila, Cebu, and Davao. Airalo leads this comparison's Speed dimension at 4.7/5, Saily follows at 4.5, and Nomad trails the field at 4.3, differences that reflect app-level routing more than raw carrier performance.
Which eSIM has the cheapest per-GB rate for Philippines?
Which eSIM has the cheapest per-GB rate for Philippines?
HelloRoam's 20GB Philippines plan prices out to $1.35/GB, the lowest rate in this comparison, ahead of Nomad's $3.00/GB and Airalo's $4.50/GB. Globe's own tourist SIM at PHP 599 ($10) for 24GB undercuts every eSIM option here, the trade-off being the SIM Registration Act's passport-and-ID step.
Does the SIM Registration Act affect eSIM users in the Philippines?
Does the SIM Registration Act affect eSIM users in the Philippines?
No. The 2023 SIM Registration Act requires passport and valid ID for local SIM purchases, adding 15 to 20 minutes at the airport. None of the five eSIM providers in this comparison require that registration, since the e-sim activates digitally before or after arrival without a carrier-store visit.
Which provider offers unlimited data for Philippines travel?
Which provider offers unlimited data for Philippines travel?
Holafly is the only provider in this comparison with unlimited daily Philippines plans, priced from $2.99/day. HelloRoam also sells unlimited plans from $5.22 a day for the Philippines. Average daily use of 1.0GB means most travelers on an 8-day trip save more on a fixed-GB plan instead.
Does eSIM coverage in the Philippines reach island-hopping routes?
Does eSIM coverage in the Philippines reach island-hopping routes?
Coverage thins on the boat routes between Palawan, Boracay, and Siargao for every provider in this comparison, since each one routes through the same Globe, Smart, or DITO infrastructure rather than a separate network. No provider in this five-way matrix holds an island-hopping-specific coverage advantage over the others.
Which eSIM app has the highest rating for Philippines travel?
Which eSIM app has the highest rating for Philippines travel?
Airalo's app rates 4.8 on iOS and 4.6 on Android, the highest combined score in this five-provider comparison, with Saily close behind at 4.5 on iOS thanks to its built-in VPN toggle. App rating affects data tracking and installation speed at NAIA, not network performance, which Globe and Smart set regardless of provider.
Compare all 5 providers for Philippines
Side-by-side scoring. Plans from $2.99/day to $4.50/GB. Verified June 2026.